The Finnish labour market system is based on widespread organisation of employees and employers and a strong tradition of bargaining and co-operation.
STTK negotiates framework agreements. During the last 30 years our collective agreements have usually been based on a framework prices-and-incomes solution negotiated by the employers ande the employees confederations and our national governement (National Incomes Policy Agreement (TUPO)). This way we have obtained many important benefits in the fields of social and employment policies.
Tripartite co-operation is as a rule a part of the Finnish labour market organisations every day work. The centralised incomes policy agreements have been complemented by collective bargaining at sectoral level. The third level of collective bargaining has been local agreements at workplaces for the past 60 years. The number of issues negotiable at local and workplace level has increased all the time since early 1990’s.
STTK's fields of activity
We:
- negotiate framework agreements
- influence national economic policy and social issues
- work for full employment
- promote life long learning and educational issues in general
- provide equal opportunities for men and women - equal pay for work of equal value
- support international co-operation
International STTK
STTK is also a part of the International Trade Union Movement. Co-operation and networking have become more and more important in an integrated Europe and globalized world. Trade unions work across the borders both at union and confederation level.
STTK participates in the work of the following International Organizations:
- Council of Nordic Trade Unions, NFS
- Baltic Sea Trade Union Network BASTUN
- European Trade Union Confederation ETUC
- Council of European Professional and Managerial Staff EUROCADRES
- Pan-European Regional Council PERC
- Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD, TUAC
- International Trade Union Confederation ITUC